I was amused by the team going under threat and losing employees! It seems in the past they have not had much trouble losing them with or without losing their "star" driver.

It is also a ridiculous line of argument. It is basically saying "I am very rich, I employ a lot of people, therefore I should be treated leniently and allowed to get away with something that poorer people shouldn't." That argument wouldn't work in the UK courts so why it works with the MSA courts I really don't know.

Just curious, has it been confirmed anywere that it was Liam involved in the problems at Gatebill? If it was then that really is a new low which is a pitty as there were signs that after his move to JRM things were looking up.

Just curious, has it been confirmed anywere that it was Liam involved in the problems at Gatebill? If it was then that really is a new low which is a pitty as there were signs that after his move to JRM things were looking up.

That is just sad to watch. Monster have to a long hard look at them self, as if they keep him as an "Athlete" then it send out all the wrong signals for them as a brand. All it takes is a few mindless idiots to tarnish a otherwise good name.

I would expect that as a sponsor you would expect quite a few things to be in place to agree a deal such as this.

LD seems to get about quite a lot as a rep for Monster. he is also sponsored by quite a few other brands, clothing, motorsport parts etc.

So he either has a very good press agent who is constantly getting him deals or he has the profile of someone that marketing folk think represents the market they want.

I think it's the former obviously. But he does seem to appear all over the place, was at MXGP the other week, Goodwood, drag racing stuff. he ran out of fuel at Goodwood, he coated the trak with oil at BSB a few years back, it's a bit of a joke really.

Also a sponsor usually wants results, Liam hasn't had any to speak of for quite some time now, and I mean nothing, no wins, nothing. he is not alone in that respect.

If you were Monster, who would you prefer, A Bakkerud who is winning, is great with fans with his cohort Block who gets you millions of youtube hits, access to a world noone else can get you on things like Top Gear, has a sort of bolshy attitude without being nasty? Or Doran who has now two bad raps on his profile has endless run ins with authority, has a mouth like a pimp.

I don't get it, I simply don't get it. But I think this might be the last straw, he wasn't competing, he was representing his team and sponsor, and if I were IMG he would be gone. You should see hte vitriol on facebook. not good.

Imagine what a Tohill, Enerberg, Lysen could do with this sort of money.

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This used to be such a vibrant place. Unless you are Oz or like 24h races whats the point now?

Very good post Chunder, got it spot on. Over the years I've seen the Doran's rallycross involvement, from Pat's debut in the Sierra, the GP B final where he grabbed Richard Hutton round the neck after a first corner incident. Liam's debut in the Mini then moving up through the classes. Both Liam and Pat have had amazing results over the years, and a lot of lows, both know how to kill a car. I was at Essay when a very young Liam made the B final in Pat's old Fiesta, what was a major achievement that day. Basically they certainly haven't been boring.